Flywheel magnetic control resistance apparatus for indoor exercise facilities

ABSTRACT

A flywheel magnetic control resistance apparatus for indoor exercise facilities includes a flywheel and a holding dock located on the periphery of the flywheel with a plurality of permanent magnets and electromagnets laid thereon alternately. The holding dock is formed in an arched shape outside the periphery of the flywheel and concentric with the flywheel. The electromagnets are connected to a power supply to allow the coils winding thereon to generate magnetic attraction forces. The current on the electromagnets is alterable to change the magnetic attraction forces between the permanent magnets and the electromagnets. Thereby the vortex resistance of the flywheel can be changed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an indoor exercise facility andparticularly to a magnetic control resistance apparatus for flywheels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional indoor exercise facility (such as a treadmill) usuallyuses a magnetic control resistance apparatus to control the treadingresistance. Referring to FIG. 1, such an apparatus generally includes aflywheel 1 with the surface made of aluminum or copper. There is aholding dock 2 on the periphery of the flywheel 1. The holding dock 2 iscoupled with a motor 4 through a steel cable 3. The holding dock 2further has a plurality of magnets 5 arranged to correspond to thedirection of the flywheel 1. The magnets 5 are permanent magnets andhave N poles and S poles laid alternately to generate a magnetic forceagainst the flywheel 1 to produce vortex resistance. As people who doexercises differ in physical strength depending on gender and age, thosewho have a greater physical strength want a greater rotationalresistance on the flywheel 1 to train their foot power and body stamina,while the people who have a lower physical strength would prefer asmaller rotational resistance on the flywheel 1.

Adjusting the rotational vortex resistance of the flywheel 1 is done bypulling the holding dock 2 forwards or backwards by the motor 4 throughthe steel cable 3. Namely the holding dock 2 has to be moved closer tothe periphery of the flywheel 1 to increase the rotational resistance ofthe flywheel 1. On the other hand, to reduce the magnetic resistance ofthe flywheel 1 to make rotation smoother, the holding dock 2 has to bemoved away from the flywheel 1 at a greater distance to reduce thevortex resistance.

In other words, the conventional magnetic control resistance apparatusalters the vortex resistance of the rotating flywheel 1 during rotationby moving the holding dock 2 via the motor 4 to adjust the distancebetween the holding dock 2 and the flywheel 1. Such an approach requiresa complicated structure and is troublesome during adjustment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid problems, the primary object of the presentinvention is to provide a flywheel magnetic control resistance apparatusfor indoor exercise facilities that includes a flywheel and a holdingdock located on the periphery of the flywheel. The holding dock has aplurality of permanent magnets and electromagnets located thereonalternately. The holding dock is formed in an arched shape andconcentric with the flywheel. The electromagnets are connected to apower supply, and the current flowing through the electromagnets isalterable to change the magnetic attraction force between theelectromagnets and the permanent magnets, thereby the vortex resistanceof the flywheel can be changed. The structure is simpler. Adjustment iseasier. And production cost also can be reduced.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages ofthe invention will be more readily apparent from the following detaileddescription, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a flywheel magnetic control resistanceapparatus of a conventional exercise facility.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a plane view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the invention for adjusting the current Iof the electromagnets.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the invention for adjusting the number ofthe electromagnets

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a plane view of the second embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 2 and 3 for a first embodiment of the flywheelmagnetic control resistance apparatus for indoor exercise facilities ofthe invention. It includes:

-   -   a flywheel 10 (made of aluminum or copper) and a holding dock 20        located on the periphery of the flywheel 10. The holding dock 20        has a plurality of permanent magnets 21 and electromagnets 22        laid thereon alternately. The holding dock 20 is formed in an        arched shape and concentric with the flywheel 10. The        electromagnets 22 are connected to a power supply to enable the        coils winding on the electromagnets 22 to generate magnetic        attraction forces. By altering the current I on the        electromagnets 22, the magnetic forces of the electromagnets 22        can be increased or reduced.

Refer to FIG. 4 for the main feature of the invention. By increasing thecurrent I on the electromagnets 22, the electromagnets 22 generate agreater magnetic attraction force. They form mutual induction with thepermanent magnets 21 (N poles and S poles) to generate a greatermagnetic attraction. As a result, a greater resistance is generated onthe flywheel 10 due to mutual induction between the magnetic attractionforce and the flywheel 10 (made of aluminum or copper). With theresistance between the flywheel 10 and the permanent magnets 21 and theelectromagnets 22 increased, users have to use a greater strength torotate the flywheel 10.

On the contrary, the rotational resistance of the flywheel 10 can bereduced or eliminated by reducing the current I on the electromagnets22, or setting the current I to zero. Then the rotational resistance ofthe flywheel 10 decreases or does not exist. And the users can doexercise with a smaller physical strength.

Referring to FIG. 5, aside from adjusting the current I on theelectromagnets 22 to alter the resistance of the flywheel 1, theresistance against the flywheel 10 may also be increased or reduced bychanging the number of the electromagnets 22.

Refer to FIGS. 6 and 7 for a second embodiment of the invention (withthe permanent magnets 21 and the electromagnets 22 located on an innerperipheral side of the flywheel 10). It mainly includes a flywheel 10and an arch-shape holding dock 20. The flywheel 10 has a center holecoupled on an axle 11. The axle 11 has an axle hole 12.

The holding dock 20 has a center shaft inserted into the axle hole 12.The holding dock 20 has a plurality of permanent magnets 21 andelectromagnets 22 located thereon in an arched manner. Its operationprinciple is same as the first embodiment previously discussed. Byadjusting the current I, the magnetic attraction force of theelectromagnets 22 can be controlled, thereby the rotational resistanceof the flywheel 10 can be increased or reduced.

In short, the present invention has the following benefits compared withthe conventional exercise facilities:

It can alter the resistance without changing the distance between theflywheel 1 and the holding dock 2 via the motor 4 or manually as theconventional ones do (referring to FIG. 1). It increases or reduces therotational resistance of the flywheel 10 by changing the current I onthe electromagnets 22 or the number of the electromagnets 22. Thus thestructure is simpler, fabrication and assembly are easier, and theproduction cost also is lower. The flywheel magnetic control resistanceapparatus of the invention also can be adapted to other types ofexercise facilities.

Prototypes of the invention have been made and tested. The resultsconfirm the functions and benefits previously discussed.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth forthe purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments ofthe invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to thoseskilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended tocover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

1. A flywheel magnetic control resistance apparatus for indoor exercisefacilities, comprising: a flywheel; and a holding dock which is locatedon the periphery of the flywheel and has a plurality of permanentmagnets and electromagnets laid thereon alternately in an arched mannercorresponding to the direction of the flywheel, the electromagnets beingconnected to a power supply, the current flowing on the electromagnetsbeing alterable to determine the magnetic attraction force between theelectromagnets and the permanent magnets thereby to change resistance onthe flywheel.
 2. The flywheel magnetic control resistance apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the number of the electromagnets is alterable accordingto requirements, and the resistance on the flywheel increases when thenumber of electromagnets increases, and the resistance on the flywheeldecreases when the number of electromagnets decreases.
 3. The flywheelmagnetic control resistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holdingdock is located outside the periphery of the flywheel.
 4. The flywheelmagnetic control resistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holdingdock is arch-shaped and has a center shaft, the flywheel having a centerhole coupled on an axle, the axle having an axle hole to be coupled bythe center shaft, the permanent magnets and the electromagnets beinglocated alternately on an outer periphery of the holding dock.